Chain protector for peanut picking machine



y 1960 J. D. MITCHELL 2,943,630

CHAIN PROTECTOR FOR PEANUT PICKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1, 1958' INVENTORJohn D. Mitchell ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,943,630 "CHA IN PROTECTOR FOR P EANUT PICKING MACHINE John D. Mitchell, Woodville, N.C.,-assignor to Harrington Manufacturing Company, Inc., Lewiston, N.C.,'a

corporation of North Carolina Filed Aug. 1, 1958, ser. No. 752,495

3 Claims. 01. 1 30-30 This invention relates to agricultural harvesters,and in particular for a protecting device in a peanut harvesting machinefor preventing damage to the picking chains and associated structure andfor insuring-proper continuous operation of the harvester.

Peanut harvesting devices such as peanut pickers and combines have beenin use for many years. These inachines embody a means for separating thepeanuts from the vines by severing the stems. In the form of thesemachines to which the instant invention most particularly relates, ascreen is transverse-d by a chain having picker arms or bars. The latterserve to move the peanut vine structure over the screen and the peanuts,through the influence of g'rav-ityytend to fall through the openings inthe screen. The stems are severed due to the forward movement of thevines over the top of the screen'with the peanutsdepending below thescreen. This is referred to as the chain carding system, the severingoperation beingin'th'e nature of a-car'ding of the peanuts from the"vines. Although sucha-system has met-with-substantial eemrnereinacceptance and is usually preferred, many the salfids' cfun'itshavingbeen sold, the system has not been entirely satisfactory from-thestandpoint of maintenanceand repair. Under certain conditions thecarding chain and bars and picking chain'are subject to breakage.-"F=or-example, cloggingw'ill result in twisting and breaking-of thebars or the attachment links by which'the bars are connected tothechains.

prior pickers have been plagued with this breakage and 'maintenanceproblem, particularly under certain harvestin conditions, such as withwet vines or heavy entanglements. -Althcugh this problem has beenknownfor 'm y'years-n'o onehaspriorto my invention, adoptedany=satisfactoiysolution to-it. -In fact this has been a problem *for'a't 'least twenty years. Asa result manufacturers have tried differenttypes of "steels in the chains;

malleable iron, cast iron and steel chains have been used. seinespecially machined steelroller chains have been employedwhich were twoand three times as expensive as those previously used and requiredspecial close fitting sprockets but still the breakage was encountered.

The breakage is primary due to a jamming under the first 'f'ew feet ofthe picking tops of the harvesting machines.

Un-avoidably from time to time excessive amounts of 'vir'ieswill' pileupat this point. This causes the chains -.to"jiimp and twist.

Furthermore, thesewads of vines which would jam the machine were apt,even if they'did not create damage to the machine structure, to becarried along'beneath tlie'picker bars and be tumbled along the screen.This would result-in poor picking and cracking and shelling f thepeanuts. Of course, this is undesirable.

An object of my invention is to provide peanutharvesting machines,employing the chain'cardiiig" system, wherein this damage to the'ma'c'hinery and the poor pickingis eliminated. According to myinvention breakage of the-pickingbar pins, twisting of the picker bars,permanent deformation of the bars and breaking of the at- ICQ tachmentflanges of the chains and the chain itself are no longer a constantthreat to continued harvesting of the crop. i

For maximum efficiency the picker bars in the chain carding system mustmove closely over the screen. This will insure the greatest number ofpeanuts falling through the screen. Accordingly a further object of theinvention is to provide means as set forth in the preceding objectwithout decreasing the normal operating efficiency of the machine.

The harvesting equipment in which the instant invention is employed isrelatively expensive as compared with a simple hay baler, for example,and adaptation of improvements might result in increased costs of themachine as well as high manufacturing changeover costs. Accordinglyanother object of my invention is to provide improvements, as set forthin the preceding objects, which are adaptable to peanut harvesterswithout high manufacturing changeover costs, and without increasing toany substantial extent the cost of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a peanut carding screenstructure embodying protector tracks accomplishing the heretoforementioned objects which can be supplied for use in the machines asintegral units requiring no modification of the frame structure of themachines.

A further object of the invention is to provide screen attachment meanscooperative with picker chain slides and picker screens, together with achain protector structure, insuring proper operation of the pickingportion of the harvester with the minimum amount of damage or disruptionthrough operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a relatively simplesolution for the heretofore mentioned problems which is readilyadaptable to known successful' harvesting equipment.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a chain carding system constructed inaccordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of a picker showing the location of thecarding apparatus.

Peanut pickers and combines, like many other harvesting devices, areuseful during relatively short periods of the year. However, when theyare needed it is-essential that they operate continuously during theharvesting period. *Even machines which have been highly successful fromthe standpoint of sales over many years and which are useful for peanutharvesting have, however, been plagued with breakage problems requiringnot only expensive repairs but necessitating delays in the harvestingprocess often resulting in hasty repairs. With the increasing cost oflabor breakdowns are becoming even more serious in their consequences.Despite these factors and the known tendency of these picking devices tobreak down at the most inappropriate times, no one has heretoforedevised a solution. After much experimentation, however, the instantinvention has been devised.

Referring now to the drawings:

The chain carding system 10 comprises a frame 12 formed of angle iron.This frame 12 is adapted to be attached to the machine frame of theharvester or can be provided as an integral part thereof. Within theframe 12 there is provided the carding system components 'consisting ofthe screen 14'. The latter in some instances willconsist of i a hex ordiamond shaped mesh screen which can be formed of expanded metal andwill have openings of about'Z" x 3". The picking operation is achievedby dragging the vines across the screen. The compound motion of thepeanuts is thus forward across the machine and downward through anyopening over which the peanuts may pass. 7 As a result the peanuts willextend below the screen while the vine itself is being dragged along theupper surface of the machine. Accordingly the screen openings will serveto sever the stems from the peanuts. The peanuts will fall below thescreen and the vines will continue along the screen and be dropped offat the end. The vines are dropped on the screen 14 by a picker cylinderor cylinders (not shown). Often wads or bunches are dropped and this isone source of the jamming and resulting damage previously experienced.

The picking screen has its longitudinal edges attached to an angleadjustment bar and screen frame member 20. The latter is formed as anangle iron and has an upper horizontal leg 22 and a depending verticalleg 24. The screen 14 extends under the horizontal leg 22 and abuts thevertical leg 24. The screen is tack-welded as at 26 at spaced points tothe horizontal and vertical legs of the frame member 20. A slide 28abuts the horizontal leg of the frame member and the upper surface ofthe screen. The slide is tack-welded to the upper leg 22 of the frame20. The screen frame has longitudinally spaced openings and bolt and nutassemblies 32 extend therethrough. These assemblies also extend throughthe vertical leg 34 of the frame 12. It is apparent that the nut andbolt assemblies can be used to tension the screen: assembly. Rollerchains 36 of a width conforming to the slides 28 are adapted to slidealong the latter. These chains have brackets 38 attached to the links 40at spaced intervals along the length of the chain.

In a preferred construction the brackets 38 are formed as integral partsof links insertable at spaced intervals along the chain in place of thenormal or more usual links. The brackets have a horizontal leg 42extending over the screen.

Picking bars 44 extend over the screen laterally thereof from one chainto its opposite chain. These bars are attached to the horizontal legs 42of the brackets 38 by pins 46. The bars extend approximately A above thescreen in the preferred embodiment although this figure is mentionedonly to illustrate the problems involved in devising a suitableprotection device. As the bars are raised above the screen, theefficiency of the pickers lowers.

The picking bars can be square edge steel bars as illustrated in thedrawings. Picking bar pins 48 are attached to the bars usually byriveting. These pins are often referred to as fingers. They are spacedalong the upper surface of the bars.

An angle member 52 having an upper horizontal leg 54 and a vertical leg56 is attached to the angle member 20 preferably with vertical leg 56 inalignment with vertical leg 24.

Angles 55 are welded to the angles 52 along each side of the screen. Theangles 55 are connected to the vertical legs 56 and extend outwardlyfrom the latter. Angles 55 have one leg at right angles to leg 56 andtheir other legs 57 are horizontally disposed. Legs 57 rest on frame 12.Slots 59 in legs 57 receive bolts which extend through the horizontalleg of frame 12. This structure supports the screen while bolts 32 serveas tensioning means for the screen.

The horizontal leg 54 extends over the chains being spaced therefrom adistance of /8. As an indication of the relative size of the elements inthe preferred embodiment described, vertical leg 56 is 1 /2" high, thehorizontal leg is 2 across and the members are A thick. The slides aretack-welded to the frames 20 and are removable for easy replacement.

. Above the picking screen there are provided spring fingers 58. Theseare supported on spaced bars 60 ex- 4 tending laterally across thescreen. These bars are at tached to the frame of the picker or combine.These spring finger members have the purpose of maintaining the vines incontact with the screen. The picking screen assembly and the fingers 58comprise the picking-top of the machines.

The simple construction disclosed results in a close fitting pickingbar, that is, close fitting with respect to the screen, having aprotector device for the chains, and in a screen combination readilyinsertable in pickers and adjustable therein. The protector 54 preventstwisting and jamming of the chain and results in a smooth uniformcarefree operation at high efficiency. Wads or bunches of vines will notbe simply rolled over underneath the bars, nor will there be twistingand breaking of the bars, fingers and chains as in the heretofore knownstructure. Yet the simple protection affording construction embodyingthe paired angle members and slides forming a single unit frame forsupporting and adjusting the side of the screen is obviously aconstruction which provides maximum strength and support for thescreens, as well as the heretofore thought impossible to achieveprotection for the chain and its associated elements.

The instant construction embodied in peanut pickers has resulted inoperation of entirely satisfactory nature even in conditions which werepurposely worsened to test the structure. Picking under conditions whichwere known to damage the heretofore constructions has been readilyaccomplished without damage through use of the instant invention.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, itwill be apparent that many changes in details and form can be made andtherefore I claim an exclusive right to all modifications and changes inform coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a peanut picking device, a frame, a picking screen, said screenhaving peanut receiving openings, said openings being defined in part bystem severing members, said screen being disposed substantially in asingle plane, an angle member extending along one of the edges of saidscreen, said screen being connected to said angle member with one leg ofsaid angle member extending over and parallel to an edge of said screen,means on said angle member for tensioning said screen, a slide memberremovably connected to said screen and abutting the upper surface ofsaid screen, said slide member also abutting said one leg of said anglemember, a picking chain slidably engaging the upper surface of saidslide, picking bars extending horizontally over said screen and attachedto said chain, picking bar pins or fingers extending vertically abovesaid bars and adapted to urge peanut vines along said screen, springfingers positioned above said bars and attached to said harvester frame,said spring fingers extending downwardly toward said screen and beingadapted to urge said vines and said bars and connected chains downwardlytoward said screen, a chain protector for regulating the movement ofsaid chain laterally of the chain contacting surface of said slidecomprising a second angle member connected to said first mentioned anglemember, said second angle member having a first leg extendingsubstantially parallel to the vertical leg of the first mentioned anglemember, and a second leg extending over the horizontal leg of the firstmentioned angle member and said slide, the latter leg of said secondangle member being positioned above and immediately adjacent said chain.

2. In a peanut picking device, in combination, a picking screen assemblycomprising a screen, said screen having peanut receiving openingsdefined in part by stem severing portions, said screen havinglongitudinal edges, an angle member extending along each of the latteredges of said screen, said screen being connected to each angle memberwith one leg of each angle member extending over and parallel to thescreen, means on at least one of said angle members for tensioning saidscreen, a second angle member attached to each of the first mentionedangle members, each second angle member having a horizontal legextending substantially parallel to the horizontal leg of said firstmentioned angle member and spaced therefrom, slide members, each of saidslide members abutting an edge of one of the horizontal legs of saidfirst mentioned angle members and resting on said screen, said slidemembers having upper slide surfaces, said surfaces being below thehorizontal legs of said second mentioned angle members and in facingrelationship with the latter legs respectively, said slide members andthe latter legs forming chain-receiving pockets adapted to slidinglyreceive a chain in bearing relationship to said slides and in spacedrelationship to the latter legs, the latter legs forming a means oflimiting movement of the chains above said slides toward said legs.

3. In a peanut picking device, a frame, a picking screen, said screenhaving peanut receiving openings, said openings being defined in part bystern severing members, said screen being disposed substantially in asingle plane, an angle member extending along one of the edges of saidscreen, said screen being connected to said angle member with one leg ofsaid angle member extending over and parallel to an edge of said screen,means on said angle member 'for tensioning said screen, a slide memberconnected to said screen and abutting the upper surface of said screen,said slide member also abutting said one leg of said angle member, apicker chain slidbly engaging the upper surface of said slide, pickingbars extending horizontally over said screen and attached to said chain,picking fingers extending vertically above said bars and adapted to urgepeanut vines along said screen, spring fingers positioned above saidbars and attached to said harvester frame, said spring fingers extendingdownwardly toward said screen and being adapted to urge said vines andsaid bars and connected chains downwardly toward said screen, a chainprotector for regulating the movement of said chain laterally of thechain contacting surface of said slide comprising a second angle memberconnected to said first mentioned angle member, said second angle memberhaving a first leg extending substantially parallel to the vertical legof the first mentioned angle member, and a second leg extending over thehorizontal leg of the first mentioned angle member and said slide, thelatter leg of said second angle member being positioned above andimmediately adjacent said chain.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 79,055Crow et al. Jan. 1, 1924- 2,3l4,879 Heller Mar. 30, 1943 2,882,909Goodlad Apr. 21, 1959

